Steel coil cutting apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A steel coil cutting apparatus that overcomes these and other problems has an automated arm having a free end. At least two cutting heads are attached to the free end of the automated arm.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent application,Ser. No. 60/591,323, filed on Jul. 27, 2004, entitled “Method andApparatus for Steel Coil Cutting” and this provisional patentapplication is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of steel cuttingdevices and more particularly to a steel coil cutting apparatus andmethod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steel coils that are defective are cut into smaller section of scrap tobe fed and re-melted in a BOF (Blast Oxygen Furnace) or electric arcfurnace. In most steel producing factories the process of cutting thedefective steel coil is a manual process. A worker uses a single handheld torch to accomplish the task of cutting the coil into smaller partsby cutting the coil along it length from top to bottom along theexterior of the coil. As the coil is being cut, the coil opens up andadditional cuts are required. This process can be time consuming andfrustrating.

Thus there exists a need for a steel coil cutting apparatus that savestime, money and reduces the frustration of workers assigned this task.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A steel coil cutting apparatus that overcomes these and other problemshas an automated arm having a free end. At least two cutting heads areattached to the free end of the automated arm. The cutting heads may betorches. A cooling system may cool the cutting heads. A housing holdsthe automated arm. A low melting point starter may be attached to one ofthe cutting heads. A regulator regulates a flow of gases to the torches.The arm may have a centering detection device.

In one embodiment, a method of cutting a steel coil includes the stepsof aligning a number cutting heads to a center of the steel coil. Thecutting heads are passed through the center of the steel coil. A speedat which the cutting head pass through the center of the steel coil maybe regulated. A flow of gas to each of the cutting heads may beregulated. A flow of oxygen to each of the cutting heads may beregulated. The steel coil may be placed vertically on blocks. A lowmelting point starter may be placed near the cutting heads. The cuttingheads may be cooled.

In one embodiment, a steel coil cutting apparatus has a platform. An armhas a first end attached to the platform. A number cutting torches areattached to a second end of the arm. The arm may be controlled by anelectronic controller. A low melting point starter may be attached tothe second end of the arm. A cooling system may cool the cuttingtorches. A centering detection device may be coupled to the second endof the arm. A flow regulator may regulating a flow of gas to one of theplurality of cutting torches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a steel coil cutting apparatus inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a steel coil cutting apparatus in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a steel coil cutting apparatus in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cutting torch heads in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is an apparatus and method for cutting steel coilsthat are defective. Once the steel coils are cut they can be fed into asteel furnace for reuse of the materials. The steel coil cuttingapparatus uses a number of cutting heads or torches to make multiplecuts in the steel coil with a single pass of the cutting heads throughthe center of the coil of steel.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a steel coil cutting apparatus 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The steel coil cuttingapparatus 10 has a platform or housing 12. A controllable or automatedarm 14 has a first end 16 coupled to the platform 12 and a second end 18with a number of cutting heads 20. Usually there are two to fourdiametrically opposite cutting heads 20 which are commonly oxygentorches. Note the torch heads essentially point perpendicular to thelength of the arm 14. A sensor 22 is attached to the cutting heads orsecond end 18 of the arm 14. The sensor 22 is part of centeringdetection system that determines the center of the steel coil. The otherpart of the centering detection system is controller 24. The sensor 22may be a laser and photo-detectors or it may be a camera system. Acooling system 26 is attached to the arm 14 and cools the arm 14 and thecutting torches 20 by circulating water over these parts in oneembodiment. A regulator 28 regulates the supply of oxygen and gas to thecutting torches 20. A low melting point starter 29 is placed adjacent tothe cutting edges. The starter system 29 may use a low melting pointwire rod feed or powder injection to enable a rapid start of the fusionor cutting of high alloy steels.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a steel coil cutting apparatus 10 in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. This figure shows a cross sectionof the steel coil 40 that has a bore 42. The torch cutting heads 20 movevertically from the top of the steel coil to the bottom of the steelcoil, in this embodiment. The invention may also be used to cut thesteel coil 40 in a horizontal direction. FIG. 3 is a side view of asteel coil cutting apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. This figure shows the steel coil 40 mounted a number ofblocks 44. The blocks 44 allow the torch heads to cut all the way to thebottom of the steel coil 40. The platform has a place for an operator tostand and control the apparatus. In operation the apparatus 10 may be onwheels 46 and may be moved about the factory to cut defective steelcoils in place. Once the apparatus 10 is next to the steel coil, thecentering system is used to center the cutting torches in the bore 42 ofthe coil 40. The torches 20 are turned on and the automated arm 14starts to move down into the bore 42. The automated arm 14 may becontrolled by programmable logic controller 24 controls or similarcontrols so that the speed of entry and traverse of the arm 14 in thebore 42 can be precisely controlled. The arm control allows differentspeeds for the start, accelerated ramp speed and deceleration. The armalso controls the speed of the multiple torch heads 20 during cutting asdifferent coil widths require different cutting speeds. The regulator 28is used to adjust the flow of gases and oxygen to the cutting torchheads 20. The cooling system 26 cools the arm 14 and the cutting torches20. Once the steel coil 40 has been cut, the apparatus 10 may be wheeledto the next steel coil to be cut.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cutting torch heads 20 in accordance withone embodiment of the invention. The individual torch heads 50, 52, 54,56 extend radially from a point 58. Note that the torch heads 50 and 52are diametrically opposite of each other and torch heads 54 and 56 arediametrically opposite of each other.

Thus there has been described an apparatus and method for cutting steelcoils that saves time, money and reduces the frustration of workersassigned this task.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.

1. A steel coil cutting apparatus, comprising: an automated arm having afree end; a plurality of cutting heads attached to the free end of theautomated arm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcutting heads are torches.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further includinga cooling system cooling the plurality of cutting heads.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, further including a housing holding the automatedarm.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a low melting pointstarter attached to one of the plurality of cutting heads.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 2, further including a regulator regulating a flow ofgases to the torches.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arm has acentering detection device.
 8. A method of cutting a steel coil,comprising the steps of: a) aligning a plurality cutting heads to acenter of the steel coil; and b) passing the plurality of cutting headsthrough the center of the steel coil.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinstep (b) further includes the step of: b1) regulating a speed at whichthe plurality of cutting head pass through the center of the steel coil.10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) further includes the stepof: b1) regulating a flow of gas to each of the plurality of cuttingheads.
 11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of: b2)regulating a flow of oxygen to each of the plurality of cutting heads.12. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a) further includes the stepof: a1) placing the steel coil vertically on a plurality of blocks. 13.The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) further includes the step of:b1) applying a low melting point starter with the plurality of cuttingheads.
 14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of: b2)cooling the plurality of cutting heads.
 15. A steel coil cuttingapparatus, comprising: a platform; an arm having a first end attached tothe platform; and a plurality of cutting torches attached to a secondend of the arm.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the arm iscontrolled by an electronic controller.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,further including a low melting point starter attached to the second endof the arm.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a coolingsystem cooling the plurality of cutting torches.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 15, further including a centering detection device coupled to thesecond end of the arm.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further includinga flow regulator regulating a flow of gas to one of the plurality ofcutting torches.